Some kids perceive Tamil easily and quickly while some endure difficulties. The blog presents some common challenges that parents encounter in helping their children learn Tamil and ways to sort them

Parents living abroad are on a spree to help their children learn Tamil language and build a native connect. Studies show that learning the native language and mother tongue is the most effective way to strengthen their cognitive skills and intellectual abilities. When children learn to think better and add shape to their emotions when they master communication in their mother tongue. Learning Tamil language in its native form helps them forge personal and professional connection with their fellow Tamils. It also broadens their perception of the Tamil culture and the rich literary works it prides about. 

Being in the field for more than five years, we come across different challenges that parents endure when it comes to teaching Tamil at home. We have curated some of the most frequently asked questions and the appropriate responses from our professionals and experts. 

Parents do not know Tamil language

In a lot of families that have settled abroad, particularly those who migrated two or three generations ago did not get an opportunity to learn Tamil. When they want their children to learn Tamil and reinforce their native connection, the struggle gets real. In that case, we encourage parents to co-learn with their children. This helps build engagement and conversations in Tamil at home. Doing so accelerates the pace of Tamil language learning for children. 

Parents don’t use Tamil to speak at home

A lot of times, parents do not use Tamil to build conversations at home despite knowing Tamil and having fluency. We suggest that parents should invest some efforts into speaking and interacting with their children in Tamil language. The easiest way to gain fluency in a language is to think in that language. People find it difficult to talk in a particular language because they tend to think in one language and then translate that into another. When parents engage with their children in Tamil, they start thinking in Tamil. This improves their fluency in the Tamil language. Making it a habit to talk in Tamil at home helps your child learn tamil language effectively at home. 

Kids learn English or other languages from daycare

When both the parents are working and professionally engaged, children are admitted to daycare since a very young age. Such children learn English as their first language because they are more exposed to English at daycare. In that case, parents should try talking to them in Tamil whenever they are around. They can also request support from their grandparents or relatives to keep their children engaged when the parents are away. Also try visiting Tamil speaking friends and family members whenever possible. When the child is young and commitments are relatively low than a school-going kid, try visiting India or Tamil speaking countries whenever possible. Have extended stays in India so your kid is continually exposed to the Tamil language and culture. 

My kid mixes English and Tamil while talking at home

When we meet parents as a part of our online Tamil classes who intend to learn Tamil online, we often come across parents who complaints that the child mixes English and Tamil when they converse at home. Do not feel bad about it. Feel good about the improvements they are making. As a parent, keep motivating your child and they will make it in sometime. Extend their exposure to Tamil language by admitting them to online Tamil classes, watching Tamil movies, listening to Tamil music, watching Tamil shows, visiting Tamil friends and families, and dining out at Tamil restaurants. This is an easy way to help your child learn tamil language effectively at home.

There is no consistency in Tamil language learning

Consistency and commitment is a problem that people endure when they try to do Tamil language learning on their own. Admitting your child to online Tamil classes would help instill a sense of consistency in Tamil language learning. Another advantage of joining such online Tamil classes to learn Tamil online is that your child will receive professional guidance. When taught systematically through a structured process, it becomes easy for the kid to perceive the intricacies of the Tamil language.

At Powerkid Tamil Academy, we follow an innovative approach of using LSRW (Listening- Speaking- Reading- Writing) framework. This helps children build their Tamil language effectively at home. Children tend to gain holistic understanding of the Tamil language, because the process would take them through a structured process of learning all the four skills essential to mastering the language. It is an easy way if you are exploring how to learn Tamil at home. 

My child isn’t show interest in Tamil language learning

A lot of times, parents endure a problem of their children not displaying any interest in learning the language. Explore ways that interests your child. Try telling stories in Tamil. Read books in Tamil. Expose your child to Tamil music. You may motivate your child to watch Tamil movies as a part of their screen time. You may consider admitting your child to online Tamil classes at Powerkid Tamil Academy. We have developed unique, innovative ways to build interest in children. You may also consider translating things to Tamil whenever they speak in English or other languages. This helps the child perceive the language more clearly and easily. 

My kid is too busy with school routines

Being too much occupied with the school routine and not finding enough space to accommodate Tamil language learning is another common issue that parents endure. Spend few minutes a day for Tamil learning, say like 20 to 30 minutes a day. You may expose them to Tamil movies as a part of their screen time. You should also converse in Tamil so they get an opportunity to learn without being so conscious about it. You may consider online Tamil classes to learn Tamil online because you don’t have to waste time on travelling to a place for classes. At Powerkid Tamil Academy, the classes are more flexible and scheduled according to the learning and timing requirements of the learner. You may consider such options to expose your child to Tamil language. 

How to overcome challenges in Tamil language learning?

Given above are some of the common challenges faced by parents as a part of instilling Tamil language skills in their children. Following are some tips they can use at home to overcome the challenges. This would be of immense help if you are looking for how to learn Tamil at home. 

• Make it a mandate to converse in Tamil at home. Encourage your child to speak in Tamil as much as possible. 
• Don’t scold them or shame your children when they speak something wrong in Tamil. Doing so would only demotivate them and in due course, the children would lose interest in Tamil language learning. 
• Expose your child to Tamil language as much as possible. Tamil movies, Tamil music, Tamil books, Tamil newspapers, Tamil restaurants, etc. should become a part of your child’s routine. 
• Explore interesting ways to teach Tamil. Tell stories in Tamil. Recite Tamil rhymes. In case you have a toddler, you may start singing Tamil thalatu songs so they get exposed since a very young age. 
• Explore Tamil classes and courses. Now that internet has made it possible to learn Tamil online from anywhere, anytime. You may consider admitting your child to online Tamil classes at Powerkid Tamil Academy. 
• If your child isn’t comfortable to learn Tamil online as a part of group, try one-on-one classes so your child gets the attention and feels heard. 

Exploring how to learn Tamil at home?

Sign up to one-on-one, online Tamil classes from Powerkid Tamil Academy and win an opportunity to educate your child with Tamil language from being bound inside your home.